Con Artist Workshop and Gallery at 119 Ludlow

Now that THECAST is firmly situated above ground at 71 Orchard, their old “dungeon space” at 119 Ludlow recently changed hands; but it remains firmly footed in the fashion world. As we speak, an upstart artist co-op dubbed Con Artist is busy preparing for an official early-June launch.

Con Artist is the brainchild of Brian Shevlin, who envisions the subterranean space as catalyst to foster a local community of creativity. We are told that the name itself is a play-on-words that derives from notions of the “artist connection.”

Thanks in part to arched ceilings of aged exposed brick and beat-up flooring, this cavernous tenement basement retains much of its historical character. The showroom-slash-retail area up front is peppered with thrift on hangers, antique sundries, and the obligatory vinyl collection.  There is also a back room artist workshop , but access is limited to invite-only members of the co-op.  Those lucky few with membership will have a wet-dream of design resources at their fingertips – a darkroom, computers, high-resolution printers, silk screen machines, etc. Whatever is created in-house is then pushed up front to sell.

Con Artist is currently in soft open mode, and is running on scattered hours until early June.

Con Artist, 119 Ludlow Street (basement)